From Kale to Carotenoid Powerhouse: A Breakthrough newswise

Newswise – Carotenoids, important antioxidants in plants, are integral to human health, boosting immunity and preventing diseases. However, many vegetables, including Chinese kale, naturally exhibit low carotenoid levels. To address this nutritional gap, scientists are exploring genetic pathways to enhance these beneficial compounds in crops, with the goal of significantly improving their health benefits. This approach takes advantage of advanced genetic technologies to potentially enrich the dietary value of commonly consumed vegetables.

published in horticultural research in april 2024 Study (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae104) Sichuan Agricultural University highlights the important role of BoaBZR1.1 Genes enhancing carotenoid biosynthesis in Chinese kale. This research points to a key genetic target for enhancing plant nutritional traits, providing valuable insight into the potential of genetic engineering to enhance essential nutrients.

The study focused on BoaBZR1.1, a transcription factor in the brassinosteroid signaling pathway essential for plant growth and stress responses. activation of BoaBZR1.1 Carotenoid biosynthesis gene expression increased substantially, leading to increased levels of both carotenoids and chlorophyll. This genetic enhancement not only increased the nutritional value but also enhanced the visual appeal of Chinese kale. The findings demonstrate an effective strategy for enhancing the nutritional profile of vegetables through targeted genetic engineering, potentially applicable to a wide range of crops. This approach represents a significant advance in agricultural biotechnology for improving dietary health.

“Genetic engineering has remarkable potential to address dietary deficiencies,” commented study co-author and renowned horticulturist Dr. Yi Tang. “This study shows how plants can take advantage of natural mechanisms to produce such crops Which are not only more nutritious but also more friendly to the environment. Challenges.”

The implications of this study extend far beyond offering possibilities for improving Chinese kale, addressing global nutritional deficiencies, and scaling up other crops to support food security. This research paves the way for a future where crops are optimized for health benefits, potentially changing global dietary patterns and contributing to sustainable agriculture.

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Reference

DOI

10.1093/hour/uhae104

original source url

https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae104

Funding Information

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32372732, 32072586, 32372683, 31500247), the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (2022NSFSC1689), the Project of Breeding of New Varieties of Sichuan Vegetable Innovation Team (sccxtd-2023-05), Agro Was supported. -China’s Industry Technology Research System (CARS-23-A07), Tianjin’s ‘131’ Innovative Team Construction Project (201923), and Guizhou Provincial Key Technology R&D Program ((2021) No. 207).

About this horticultural research

horticultural research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Report™ from Clarivate, 2022. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, viewpoints, commentaries, correspondence articles and letters. Editors deal with all major horticultural plants and topics, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology and the origin and domestication of crops.